Fall is here and Yankeetown’s famous “no-see-ums”* have succumbed to the cool weather, making a walk through the annual Seafood Festival lots of fun for the entire family. Yankeetown is a historic town on Florida’s Gulf Coast, and is the southernmost town in our Natural North Florida region. It’s located on SR40, just west of the town of Inglis and US19/98 in Levy County.

Originally settled as a fishing and hunting destination for visitors (later settlers) from the northern U.S., Yankeetown is now a peaceful town aside the Withlacoochee River, one of Florida’s most beautiful.

The 2016 Yankeetown Seafood Festival will be held on Saturday and Sunday, November 19 and 20 along Riverside Drive. Riverside Drive runs parallel to SR40 and will be closed to vehicular traffic. However, there will be ample parking for all–just look for signs. At the festival expect to see local art, crafts–and of course plenty of seafood!

The Riverside Inn, originally the Izaak Walton Lodge, is a Yankeetown landmark.

The Withlacoochee River is one of the most scenic rivers in Natural North Florida

Walk the walk, and follow your dream to Yankeetown, where Elvis filmed “Follow That Dream” in 1961!

*”no-see-ums” are tiny gnat-like insects that are more pest than threat. They bite, and you itch, and they CAN ruin walks through some coastal southern towns and cities. The best way to avoid them is to stay inside at dawn and dusk, or to douse yourself in insect repellent (or Avon’s Skin So Soft bath oil!). In any case, don’t let them deter you from being active and outdoors.